My hip resurfacing is still great and I never had problems with it. I still believe hip resurfacing is a great alternative to a total hip replacement for the right candidate – normally younger people that are very active and want no restrictions.
I started my website https://surfacehippy.info in 2005 to provide
** March 15, 2025 will be my 19 year Anniversary ** of receiving my BHR Birmingham Hip Resurfacing from Dr. De Smet in Belgium in 2006. During these years, I’ve carefully tracked hip resurfacing outcomes and patient experiences. What I find most encouraging is that 73% of hip resurfacing patients can run within 5 years after surgery, while only 32% of traditional hip replacement patients achieve this milestone.
Many patients don’t know there are two main choices when looking at hip surgery – Hip Resurfacing and Total Hip Replacement (THR). I’ve spent years studying both procedures and helping patients understand their options through the Surface Hippy website.
Hip resurfacing saves most of your natural bone. The surgeon only removes the damaged surface of your femoral head (the ball of your hip) and covers it with a metal cap. THR takes a different approach … Read the rest
Selection of a surgeon for hip resurfacing is a personal choice. It is a choice that makes you feel confident that your surgery will go well, that your surgeon has a good bedside manner and you can ask questions anytime you need answers.
When buying real estate the old saying about what is important is “Location, Location and Location.” In many people’s minds the most important factor in choosing a surgeon for hip resurfacing is … Read the rest
Owner and Webmaster of Surface Hippy
I often have people write to me personally for advice and information. I have been researching hip resurfacing for about four years. I had my hip resurfaced March 15, 2006 with Dr. De Smet of Belgium. I have formed many opinions along the way. They are only my opinions from what I have read. I am not trained in any medical field, I am a Mechanical Engineer by … Read the rest
There are people that have experienced very difficult recoveries and their return to a normal life has been very slow. I guess they are the Turtles.
Some are lucky and have an average recovery which puts … Read the rest
You should ask your hip resurfacing doctor as many of the questions that seem appropriate for your situation. Your doctor should be patient, willing to talk about what to expect and answer your questions. Having all your questions answered will give you peace of mind and will make your surgery much less stressful.
Download and print the Questions Here:
https://surfacehippy.info/pdf/Questions-to-ask-hip-resurfacing-surgeon.pdf
Will you perform my hip resurfacing personally or have an assistant do the surgery?
Patricia Walter Owner/Webmaster of Surface Hippy Website
Hip Resurfacing is very near and dear to my heart and left hip. I believe it is a wonderful alternative to a total hip replacement, if you are a suitable candidate. People with painful hips want to begin living an active life again without pain. They don’t want restrictions to their favorite sports and activities. Hip Resurfacing offers that opportunity to return to a normal active life without … Read the rest
Article by Patricia Walter after attending the 2nd Annual Hip Resurfacing Course Oct. 2008 in LAUpdated 11/4/08
According to the registries and medical studies, the perfect hip resurfacing candidate is a male patient under 55 that is active, has good bone density and has a large femur neck. Of course, I am not a doctor, and am interpreting what I learned at the 2nd Annual Hip Resurfacing Course in LA on October 24 and … Read the rest
Hip Resurfacing is very near and dear to my heart – and left hip. I believe it is a wonderful alternative to a total hip replacement, if you are a suitable candidate. People with painful hips want to begin living an active life again without pain. They don’t want restrictions to their favorite sports and activities. Hip Resurfacing offers that opportunity to return to a normal active life without the fear of dislocation and other … Read the rest
Patricia Walter discusses hip resurfacing and BHR Birmingham Hip Resurfacing she received in 2006 from Dr. De Smet in Belgium. Video recorded March 1, 2008
The first advantage of a hip resurfacing is that the hip device, due to its large size, allows a person to return to any of their favorite activities without restrictions or possibility of a dislocation. The old fashioned total hip replacement devices use a much smaller diameter ball as compared
My hip hurt, my body hurt and I needed a new hip. I had fought hip pain for almost ten years because I just did not want “half my leg bone cut off” to get a new hip replacement. It just did not make sense to me that doctors were still sawing off a big hunk of a femur bone to replace a hip. We sent men to the moon, had nuclear power and every … Read the rest
You can send your own personal hip resurfacing stories and photos to Pat at pwalter@surfacehippy.info
New people always like to read about other hippies personal stories. The stories tell people what they can expect both pre and post-op and offer information about surgeons doing hip resurfacing.
You can make a small donation to help support the site, hosting and Patricia’s work … Read the rest
Dr. Gross discusses the importance of choosing an experienced hip resurfacing surgeon for perspective patients.. He explains why the expienced surgeons have better
Article by Patricia Walter and Hip Resurfacing Surgeons
Patients and prospective patients are always concerned about
the complications that could occur after a hip resurfacing surgery. The typical
problems include femur neck fractures, dislocations, loose acetabular cups,
improperly positioned acetabular cups, high metal ions, infections,
pseudotumors, ALVAL and metalosis.
There has been a lot of discussion among patients on
discussion groups about the high metal ion issue and pseudotumors. I am
not a doctor or … Read the rest
A new member of the Hip Talk Discussion Group is considering hip resurfacing, but very concerned about the negative press and the medical communities not supporting hip resurfacing.
Patricia Walter, owner of the Surface Hippy Website, responded to his concerns about hip resurfacing in the following article:
Hip Resurfacing is a very special method of replacing a hip. Ever since I began this website in 2005, hip resurfacing has never been widely accepted by the … Read the rest